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George Pickens got some help in the wide receiver room when the Pittsburgh Steelers bolstered their lineup with the addition of DK Metcalf. The former Seahawk has racked up six straight 900-yard seasons, providing the offense with another talented playmaker.
There is one issue, however, that the two new teammates will have to navigate. Each has donned No. 14 since arriving to the NFL.
Pickens currently owns the number, which he was assigned after being drafted by the Steelers. He’d have to negotiate with Metcalf in order to make the switch.
After news of the trade went public, Pickens seemingly teased the idea of a number change on social media. The jersey he posted, however, does not exist.
The wideout posted an image of him donning the No. 1 jersey he wore at Georgia. The number’s been unofficially retired by the organization.
While only two numbers in Pittsburgh history are “officially” retired (70 and 75), a handful of jerseys haven’t been worn in many years. In this case, that No. 1 belongs to former kicker Gary Anderson, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
It’s the reason Justin Fields switched from No. 1 to No. 2 after joining the Steelers last year. It’s why George Pickens couldn’t have the number in the first place.
It might also be expensive for George Pickens to give DK Metcalf his number.
In the past, we’ve seen players forced to wait a season before announcing a jersey change. Most notably, Dalvin Cook swapped from No. 33 to No. 4 before the 2022 season.
He’d attempted to do it for the ’21 campaign but was told it would cost him over $1 million for the cost of unsold inventory. It’s unclear if Pickens’ price tag would be that high, but it certainly wouldn’t be cheap given his popularity among fans throughout the league.
Still, it would be another negotiation topic should the players wind up making the deal. As of now, George Pickens appears open to the idea. Then again, it might be best for each side to bite the bullet for one year longer and see what the future holds.
Many have already begun to speculate that this move foreshadows the end of Pickens’ career with the Steelers. That could either come in the form of a trade this season, or his hitting free agency after 2025.
He’s been a headache throughout much of his time with the franchise, but his talent is undeniable. It will be interesting to see what direction the sides go this offseason.